Articles
History of onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivation in eastern Estonia
Article number
1438_43
Pages
355 – 362
Language
English
Abstract
In the Estonian area, onions were known and used for food as early as the 13th century.
Nowadays, onions are one of the most important vegetables in terms of the size of the growing area.
Historically, the most famous onion farmers have been the Old Believers, who fled to Estonian territories from Russia due to religious persecution.
In the 17th century, they settled first on the coast of Lake Peipus on the Eastern border of Estonia.
Since then, growing vegetables has become an important source of livelihood for the Old Believers.
Long-term gardening traditions and skills of the growers, as well as the local natural conditions, favored particularly the cultivation of potato onions, which soon became the region’s most important horticultural crop and commodity.
In the 1920s and 1930s, up to three-quarters of Estonian onion production came from this region.
Onion growing gained special impetus in Lake Peipus during the Soviet period, when the best onion growers’ yields reached 10-12 t year‑1. Strong traditions and close relations within the community allowed the Old Believers not to mix with neighboring people, and their distinctive way of living has survived until nowadays.
To grow onions, a special agricultural technique not known elsewhere in Estonia is still in use.
During long-term cultivation, a local heirloom potato onion cultivar ‘Peipsiäärne’ (by Lake Peipus) has developed.
This is still highly appreciated by consumers.
Nowadays, onions are one of the most important vegetables in terms of the size of the growing area.
Historically, the most famous onion farmers have been the Old Believers, who fled to Estonian territories from Russia due to religious persecution.
In the 17th century, they settled first on the coast of Lake Peipus on the Eastern border of Estonia.
Since then, growing vegetables has become an important source of livelihood for the Old Believers.
Long-term gardening traditions and skills of the growers, as well as the local natural conditions, favored particularly the cultivation of potato onions, which soon became the region’s most important horticultural crop and commodity.
In the 1920s and 1930s, up to three-quarters of Estonian onion production came from this region.
Onion growing gained special impetus in Lake Peipus during the Soviet period, when the best onion growers’ yields reached 10-12 t year‑1. Strong traditions and close relations within the community allowed the Old Believers not to mix with neighboring people, and their distinctive way of living has survived until nowadays.
To grow onions, a special agricultural technique not known elsewhere in Estonia is still in use.
During long-term cultivation, a local heirloom potato onion cultivar ‘Peipsiäärne’ (by Lake Peipus) has developed.
This is still highly appreciated by consumers.
Authors
A. Banner, I. Bender
Keywords
potato onion, heirloom, history of gardening, cultural heritage
Groups involved
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Horticulture for Development
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
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